Salt Lake Bees

PHOENIX -- All those years the Angels pined for a power-hitting third baseman, and now they may have found one right under their noses. Mark Trumbo, making his eighth start of the spring at third, dived to his left to stop Rickie Weeks' fifth-inning shot and threw to second for an out, then lined a solo home run to right-center field off Francisco Rodriguez in the eighth to highlight the Angels' 6-3 split-squad victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Few expect the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Trumbo to be the next Brooks Robinson -- or Troy Glaus, for that matter -- on defense, and he has already made three errors this spring. But the converted first baseman has also made enough progress that he could eclipse the Angels' projection of playing 30-40 games there this season.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- When Mike Napoli was playing for the other team, Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler had a serious dislike for him.

Sure, a lot of that had to do with Napoli playing for a division opponent the past five years before he became part of a World Series team in Texas.

There was also the way Napoli flipped his bat after hitting a home run or how the top button of his Angels jersey was often undone.

Santana struck out and 10 and allowed only two runners -- there was an error on the leadoff batter in the first inning and a walk in the eighth. Just once was Santana's gem in jeopardy and second baseman Howie Kendrick's nifty play saved it in the sixth.

This was the third no-hitter in the major leagues this season, yet another sign that this, too, is another Year of the Pitcher. Minnesota's Francisco Liriano did it against the Chicago White Sox on May 3 and Detroit ace Justin Verlander beat Toronto on May 7.

Whatever Rod Carew is selling, I'm buying.

After all, the man is a Hall of Fame baseball player from my own personal golden age, which is to say he was a star several years ago when I was first introduced to the game.

I remember him playing for the Minnesota Twins and later the California Angels. As a little leaguer I tried to imitate his unique batting stance and he captured my attention with his "small ball" style of play.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Jeff Baisley didn't print up the invitations or organize this party, but somehow he ended up hosting anyway.

That's because Baisley -- along with fellow infielder Gil Velasquez -- are the Salt Lake Bees' representatives in the 2011 Triple-A All-Star game held tonight at 7 p.m. at Spring Mobile Ballpark, as the stars of the Pacific Coast League take on top prospects from the International League.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- If you're an Angels catcher, you'd prefer not to be mentioned in the same sentence with Josh Paul, but that's where Hank Conger found himself in the third inning Sunday night.

Angels starter Ervin Santana struck out Dodgers leadoff batter Tony Gwynn Jr. on a slider in the dirt to open the inning. Conger caught the ball on a hop and thought he applied a tag to Gwynn, who was breaking for first base.

But instead of throwing to first for the sure out, Conger pleaded with umpire Dan Iassogna, who signaled safe as Gwynn ran to first. Conger was charged with an error, and replays were inconclusive as to whether he applied a tag.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The slow pace of Kendrys Morales' rehabilitation from a broken ankle this spring allowed rookie Mark Trumbo to win some unexpected playing time at first base.

But now that Morales is officially done for the season, Trumbo doesn't plan to change anything.

"I'm not going to approach it any differently," he said. "All along I never knew quite where he was at, but it never seemed that he was knocking on the doorstep. It's nice that I'll get a few more chances, but I'm going to do exactly the same thing I have been doing."